Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Posted by: Michael | 06/16/2015

Making Merit

Lately I have been attempting to increase my material giving through donations of money where appropriate and through the goody of food and drink whenever possible. I have mentioned this before but u for the act of offering food and drink to someone to be psychologically more powerful than simply giving money to a faceless organization. So, selfishly or not, it had become my preferred mode of generosity.

Last night, however, I did something I had never yet thought of before and wad so pleased with the results that I intend to make a habit of it. After having an argument with my wife (something which I could done no way to avoid other than by eventually stonewalling), o had top go out to pick up something at the store. It occurred to me that I had been looking for someone who looked like they wanted something to eat or drink. I realized that dana was the perfect way to uplift the mind and make a positive impression where there was a stain of anger and resentment. I won’t go into further detail but suffice to say I found someone to take my offering and my heart was immediately changed.

I used to go out and drink when I had problems but if sends to me that I have stumbled upon an open secret that is infinitely more fulfilling. Ramadhan behind tomorrow and I hope to increase my giving throughput the month of fasting. Sukhita hontu!

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dana, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: dana, generosity

Posted by: Michael | 06/15/2015

Well-spoken Words

166. The Lord said: “Words that have four qualities are well-spoken, not ill-spoken, faultless, not blamed by the wise. What four? Concerning this, one speaks words that are beautiful, not ugly; one speaks words that are right, not wrong; one speaks words that are kind, not cruel; one speaks words that are truthful, not false.”

The virtuous call beautiful speech the foremost,
Secondly comes right speech, not wrong,
Thirdly come kind words, not cruel,
And fourthly comes truthful, not false speech.

Then Venerable Vangisa moved from his seat, put his robe on one shoulder, joined his hands and said: “Something occurs to me, Lord.” Then Venerable Vangisa spoke these words in praise of the Lord:

One should utter only words
Which do no harm for oneself
Or cause harm to others,
That is truly beautiful speech.

Speak kind words,
Words rejoiced at and welcomed,
Words that bear ill-will to none;
Always speak kindly to others.

Truthful speech is of the immortal.
This is an eternal law.
The virtuous stand firm on words
That are truthful, useful and right.

The Buddha speaks words that lead
To the winning of security,
The ending of sorrow, and the attaining of Nirvana.
Truly, this is the speech supreme.

Sutta Nipata 450-454

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Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Sammā Vācā, Theravada | Tags: beautiful speech, right speech, samma vaca, truthful speech, Well-spoken

Posted by: Michael | 06/14/2015

Keeping the Mind Pure

For the last few days I have been really intent on keeping my mind and thoughts as pure as possible. This is largely due to my contemplations on the devas but also a result of my long acquaintance with the Teachings on heedfulness and satipatthana.

As with all of the Teachings, I now see the great benefit of devanussati in making more tangible the reality of kamma (here’s the carrot) and showing that even our innermost thoughts may be read like a book by any number of beings which we cannot now perceive (and, here, the stick).

As a result, when I am walking and have no other object in mind I turn to lightly inspecting the quality of my thoughts and repeating the meditation words “May I keep my mind pure” as a story of mental shorthand for the variety of tasks required to apply Right Action worth Right Effort.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: deva, pure, right action, right effort, samma kammanto, samma vayamo

Posted by: Michael | 06/12/2015

Do Good

163. Abandon wrong. It can be done. If it were impossible to do, I would not urge you to do so. But since it can be done, I say to you: “Abandon wrong.”
If abandoning wrong brought loss and sorrow, I would not urge you to do so. But since it conduces to benefit and happiness, I urge you: “Abandon wrong.”
Cultivate the good. It can be done. If it were impossible to do, I would not urge you to do so. But since it can be done, I say to you: “Cultivate the good.”
If cultivating the good brought loss and sorrow, I would not urge you to do so. But since it conduces to benefit and happiness, I urge you: “Cultivate good.”

Anguttara Nikaya I.58

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Posted in Buddha, Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: bontà, cultivating the good, do good, goodness

Posted by: Michael | 06/11/2015

Sick Kid

My son woke up this morning with a headache and had ended up staying home. As always, his mother and I tried to discern the cause of the headache through a series of questions: did you feel sick yesterday? Did you hit your hear? Is it getting better or worse? All manner of fears arise and you find yourself contemplating nightmare scenarios while alternately being irritated by your child’s inability to articulate their trite feelings and the possible etiology of their malady.

Such is parenthood and such is life. None of its escapes from sickness or death and this fact of samsara colors every moment of my life as a father. As uncomfortable as it is I need to realize that my son and daughter have bodies as fragile and ephemeral add my own and that any sickness can be the last. Scary? Certainly. But what better reason to practice?

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Maranasati, Maranassati, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: illness, Sick kids, sickness

Posted by: Michael | 06/10/2015

Devanussati

The reality of devas and other unseen beings is something I have never had a problem taking on faith. I know for a lot of so-called Western Buddhists this is a sore subject and is often either ignored completely or derided as an unnecessary cultural accretion from Buddhism’s ancient Indian past. But the violence done to the actual Teachings when we take the layer Duane is something I cannot personally stomach.

Throughout the suttas and in most daily devotions one finds constant mention of and references to the devata but I had never really given too much thought to the actual practice of devanussati. I guess that I, too, felt that this recollection was somehow below for to my own hubris. And yet, add I read about the ten recollections yesterday I realized that I had been found myself a great disservice. As one ajahn pointed out, the existence of the devas gives us confidence not only in the good result of kusala kamma but can also help list a darkened mind into the light by contemplating that there are gray beyond of light and splendor who look after the beings of the world and especially those struggling to live in the light of the Dhamma.

The skillfulness of the recollection doesn’t end there either. For me, to realize that there are countless, benevolent beings who can instantly read my thoughts is a great reason to guard the mind. The sheet embarrassment of broadcasting impure and ignoble thoughts is enough to make me do everything in my power to curb then and train the mind.

May there be every good blessing and Mai the devas protect you.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Theravada | Tags: deva, devanussati, recollection of the devas

Posted by: Michael | 06/09/2015

An Uposatha

Today is an Uposatha day and, as had become customary lately, I am ambivalent and indecisive about whether to observe. I see great benefit in the practice and in developing nekkhama parami but my days seem so ill suited to certain aspects of it that I pull back and don’t follow through. So, I will observe in a way that at least acknowledges the renunciate aspect of today by only eating a midday meal and foregoing dinner. This way I can still work a full day and help my wife with her studies tonight without having a complete breakdown.

Is it the way I would prefer to observe? No but what would that really mean? Best to do what I can with the right intention than to obsess over the particulars.

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Posted in Buddha, Daily Practice, Dhamma, Nekkhama, Sila, Theravada, Uposatha | Tags: good enough, observance, renunciation, rinuncia

Posted by: Michael | 06/08/2015

Placing Blame

I doubt know about you, bit when the chips are down and something goes wrong when I am with my wife I find I am always more likely to place the blame on her even if I never let on to it by word or deed. I have been becoming evermore aware of this strange fact and it’s not a very pleasant or noble side of oneself to see.

May I work to bring more clarity and mindfulness to my failings and reflect on the truth of karma so that I can see my every experience in a way that accords with the Dhamma.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: Blame, fault-finding, marriage

Posted by: Michael | 06/05/2015

Parking Rage

I think I have mentioned once or twice my total disdain for parking. It’s an almost irrational hate and fear but or is strong enough that I do everything I can to organize my life in order to avoid it. This morning however I found myself in a situation where I both had to park and was going to be late.

I won’t dwell too much on the reasons why I suddenly found myself in the positron of having to circle around Park Slope and Gowan for forty five minutes but suffice it to sati I was resenting my partner for the whole thing. As I say behind a garbage truck slowly crawling its way up Carroll St in fits and stays I began to contemplate the anger: who’s was it? Would I want it if it were to be the last thing I ever experienced? What about patience? Kindness? Is this how you develop it?

I don’t want to betaine the truth of the situation. I was angry (rightfully or not) and I need to accept that add I do any other fact of perception. But, I was able to wait. To come to some kind of peace and top restrain myself from anything more than mental recriminations. Practicing in this way I hope to someday purify those as well but in the meantime I will take heart and hot in a job done well enough.

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Posted in Buddha, Buddhism, Dhamma, Parenting, Theravada | Tags: anger, irritating, resentment

Posted by: Michael | 06/03/2015

Acceptance

This morning up woke up tired and out of if sorts. Truth be told I still feel that way as I write now. As usual when I feel this way I struggled to figured out what practice was called for to meet the situation in a skilful way. Almost immediately I decided to forgo the practice of reciting my precepts and cycling through some other ideas like trying metta for others and myself until it hit me: all of this struggling to find a way to deal with the dukkha was causing even more dukkha.

In what I can only describe as a moment of clarity I realized that just accepting the moment with all of its displeasure and pain was the best way to address it in line with the Dhamma. Accept and try to comprehend it as well as I am able.

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Posted in Buddha Vacana, Buddhism, Dhamma, Dukkha, Theravada | Tags: acceptance, suffering